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Grad Student Metamorphosis, Stage 2
Jan. 30th, 2005 07:39 pmAlthough I already think I may be insane for doing so, I'm going to attempt four classes this semester, even though one of them is a studio:
The last three are things I really can't wiggle out of, but how could I possibly not take Public Transportation Systems? It isn't offered very often, and I just can't miss it. Not taking that class would negate my entire purpose in going to grad school in the first place, in a way. It all started with the trains. I must follow the trains. But Studio is a monster of a class, and even an extra credit hour. It's a sort of professional practicum. We'll be doing actual contracted projects for towns across Massachusetts. I've been assigned to a group working with the town of Gill, to help determine what they should do with a 12 acre plot of land that the town has acquired.
Speaking of trains, Nathan was kind enough to take me to the annual Railroad Hobby Show at the Big E grounds. I bought a few books (some of which would have come in very handy during my history class last semester), gawked at some amazing layouts, and Nathan graciously failed to die of boredom.
I have high hopes for this semester. The first week of classes went by without any nervous breakdown on my part. The living room is much cleaner and has a couch in it. The days will be getting longer, rather than shorter. All of my professors seem very good. Most of these classes are more about math and computers, which are stronger areas for me than paper-writing. I got a new assistantship, which is already going well, even if it is as amorphous as the last one. And I've started to get used to living here, even if I still pine for Cambridge.
- CE-ENGIN 510: Public Transportation Systems
- REGIONPL 643: Economic Development Issues in Planning...
...or Social and Economic Policy Analysis. Depending on which part of the computer you ask. Personally, I'm calling it "Superquant". - REGIONPL 675: Regional Planning Studio I
- REGIONPL 691E: Geographic Information Systems
The last three are things I really can't wiggle out of, but how could I possibly not take Public Transportation Systems? It isn't offered very often, and I just can't miss it. Not taking that class would negate my entire purpose in going to grad school in the first place, in a way. It all started with the trains. I must follow the trains. But Studio is a monster of a class, and even an extra credit hour. It's a sort of professional practicum. We'll be doing actual contracted projects for towns across Massachusetts. I've been assigned to a group working with the town of Gill, to help determine what they should do with a 12 acre plot of land that the town has acquired.
Speaking of trains, Nathan was kind enough to take me to the annual Railroad Hobby Show at the Big E grounds. I bought a few books (some of which would have come in very handy during my history class last semester), gawked at some amazing layouts, and Nathan graciously failed to die of boredom.
I have high hopes for this semester. The first week of classes went by without any nervous breakdown on my part. The living room is much cleaner and has a couch in it. The days will be getting longer, rather than shorter. All of my professors seem very good. Most of these classes are more about math and computers, which are stronger areas for me than paper-writing. I got a new assistantship, which is already going well, even if it is as amorphous as the last one. And I've started to get used to living here, even if I still pine for Cambridge.
